Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleWeekly Bulletin 3-29-2015
Bible TextEphesians 1:17-23
Date28-Mar-2015
Article Type Bulletin
PDF Format pdf
Word Format doc
 

March 29, 2015

SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

 

LOCATION

Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd Floor

150 Washington Street

Rocky Hill, New Jersey, 08553

Clay Curtis, pastor

Telephone: 615-513-4464

 

Schedule of Services

Sunday 10: 15 AM Bible Class

Sunday 11:00 AM Morning Service

Thursday 7: 30 PM Midweek Service

 

Services Broadcast Live @ www.FreeGraceMedia.com/live

 

Sermons on Video on YouTube. Search by pastor’s name.

 

?-----------------------------?a


NURSERY

We have a nursery equipped with a digital flat screen television broadcasting all services live, for children four and under.   Check the announcements.

 

?-----------------------------?

All articles in the bulletin are by the pastor unless otherwise noted.

 

?-----------------------------?

 

PURPOSE

 

Ephesians 1:11: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will

 

    God is not trying or attempting to save everybody that will let Him! God Almighty, in sovereign grace, saves whom He wills on PURPOSE. God does not make salvation “possible.” God makes salvation “certain.” Redemption in Christ has never been a thing of “possibility.” Redemption in Christ has always been “according to the purpose of him, who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” David Eddmenson, pastor, Bible Baptist Church, Madisonville, KY

 

?-----------------------------?

 

It is hard to say which is worst – the atheist who says, “There is no God” or the religionist who maintains that God cannot do as He pleases. Scott Richardson, pastor emeritus, Katy Baptist Church, Fairmont, WV

?-----------------------------?

 

THREE “WHATS”

 

Ephesians 1: 17: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know WHAT is the hope of his calling, and WHAT the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19: And WHAT is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20: Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21: Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23: Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

 

These three “whats” comprise the joy set before you and I who believe on Christ:

 

1) The hope of his calling—Christ in you is the hope of glory and glory with Christ is the hope of his calling. The chief end for which we hope is our eternal salvation into our inheritance to see our Redeemer face-to-face and live with him forever.

 

2) The riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints—this includes God himself being glorified when he manifests before all powers and principalities his glory in perfecting and conforming each of his saints to Christ in the last day—it is God’s inheritance in the saints.

 

3) The exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe—this includes the mighty power which he has already worked toward us who believe, the power he is now working toward us and the power he shall work toward us when he raises us up in the last day. 

 

The more God enlightens the eyes of our understanding to behold this three-fold joy the more faith and assurance we will have that God has saved us and the more willing it will make us to lay down our lives and to suffer the loss of all we have for the cause of Christ and his gospel.

 

?-----------------------------?

 

1 Corinthians 10:31: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

?-----------------------------?

 

Numbers 21: 5: “Our soul loatheth this light bread.”

The manna that fell down from heaven every day no longer tasted good to them.  Did the manna change in composition or taste?  No.  Their taste had changed. Todd Nibert, pastor, Todd’s Road Grace Church, Lexington, KY

 

?-----------------------------?

 

THE HEART OF THE SABBATARIAN

Isaiah 58: 3: Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?

    God reveals the hearts of the children of Jacob as they observed the Sabbath Day by referring to their Sabbath keeping as a “fast” and “affliction of soul.”  Perhaps they did “fast” and “afflict” themselves; God did not require they do either on the Sabbath Day.  But God is revealing their true hearts because by looking at their so-called obedience, they considered themselves to be doing a great sacrificial and afflicting work for God.  

    Also, they complained, “There is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.” (Nu 21: 5) In their hearts, they thought that if all they could eat was manna from heaven then they might as well be fasting.  God reveals this was their heart toward Christ our living Bread and our Sabbath Rest.  They were willing to observe the day and keep a running tally of all their labors in doing so, but they missed Christ who it typified. Resting in Christ would require them to do without the fleshly bread of self-righteous works for which they truly had an appetite. The same is true in our day with multitudes.

    But thanks be to God, our Savior gives his child a new heart and a new appetite as the Holy Spirit rains down the true Manna into our hearts and brings us to rest in Christ our true Sabbath. Like as God provided extra manna so as to make full provision for their rest so in our Substitute the believer finds the full supply of wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Therefore, when the new day of grace dawns in our hearts, by faith we enter Christ’s rest fully persuaded that we shall never hunger or thirst again. (Jn 6: 47-50)